Newly Unveiled Fruit Garden Blossoms at Fort Bend County Master Gardeners' Demonstration Site
A new chapter in community gardening has taken root in Rosenberg, Texas. In May 2025, the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners (FBMG) unveiled their latest addition: a thoughtfully curated Fruit Garden now welcoming visitors alongside their other public demonstration gardens at Fort Bend County Fairgrounds, located at 1402 Band Road.
This newest development is more than just a space for fruit trees and berry bushes—it's a living classroom, cultivated with care and collaboration by the nonprofit volunteer group that operates under the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.
Part of a Broader Mission: Education Through Gardening
Fort Bend County Master Gardeners is one of many county-level chapters supported by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, which is known statewide for providing research-based, practical education to Texans. The AgriLife Extension’s Master Gardener program trains volunteers to assist with community outreach, horticulture education, and sustainable gardening practices. FBMG fulfills that mission locally by maintaining nine demonstration gardens in Rosenberg, offering public tours, classes, and seasonal plant sales.
The Fruit Garden marks the latest evolution of their educational offerings. Designed to showcase what fruits thrive in Fort Bend County’s unique climate and soil conditions, the space also provides a tranquil, family-friendly environment that encourages exploration.
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“Tending to fruit trees and plants can be therapeutic and satisfying,” said Master Gardener Deborah Birge, who helped develop the garden and also spearheaded a Backyard Orchard project more than a decade ago. “It’s a great way to teach kids about nature and where food comes from. It can introduce them to birds, bees, and butterflies, making your garden a lively ecosystem and giving the entire family a connection with nature.”
A Labor of Love, from Planning to Planting
Planning for the new Fruit Garden began in August 2024. Master Gardeners Mary Parkhouse and Linda Bair led the charge as co-chairs, with key support from Don Parkhouse, Anita Maddox, and a wave of enthusiastic interns from the 2024 Master Gardener class. By October, Bair and Maddox had presented a detailed plan and budget—built around Parkhouse’s plant layout—to the FBMG board of directors, which approved a $10,000 budget unanimously.
Much of the groundwork took place last fall, including land clearing, vegetation removal, soil testing and amending, and the installation of a custom irrigation system. The group brought their experience and teamwork to bear in executing every phase with precision.
“We selected trees that we sell at our annual fruit tree sale and those highly recommended by Birge suited for our purposes and our site,” Bair explained.
Master Gardeners lead a hands-on demonstration in the newly opened Fruit Garden at the Fort Bend County The final design includes two peach trees and three fig trees lining a central walkway, surrounded by six large raised beds, 11 smaller ones, and three specially built acidic-soil beds for blueberry bushes. A grape arbor with seating provides a shaded rest stop and focal point.
In total, the garden now boasts 19 fruit trees—persimmon, orange, plum, kumquat, apple, grapefruit, pear, satsuma, lemon—and a variety of berries, including blackberries and three types of blueberries. Two grapevines round out the selection, offering a comprehensive look at what’s possible in home orchards throughout Fort Bend County.
Community Roots and a Growing Legacy
The Fruit Garden is the modern evolution of the Backyard Orchard, a feature originally established by Birge in 2013 behind FBMG’s greenhouse. That earlier orchard, with its blend of fruit trees, herbs, and flowers, was dismantled and reimagined as part of this new effort—more accessible, educational, and reflective of current best practices.
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With this addition, the Master Gardeners continue to build on decades of service to the Fort Bend County community. From seasonal plant sales to free gardening workshops and hotline consultations, FBMG volunteers donate thousands of hours each year to help residents grow smarter and more sustainably.
Whether you're a longtime gardener or curious newcomer, the FBMG Fruit Garden is now open and ready to inspire. For details about visiting, volunteering, or becoming a certified Master Gardener, residents can visit the Fort Bend County Master Gardeners website or follow their social media channels.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
